RIA 1911 experiences

[Surfah]

Ok. I shot a 1911 yesterday and I love it. The problem is I won't have the budget for a springfield, s&w or any of the nicer 1911's. I've seen on this forum that the RIA 1911's are more affordable. Can any calgunner owner share their experiences of the RIA 1911? Or recommend another similar priced 1911?

[Saigon1965]

There are so many recent threads on the subject -

Here I did a quick search - Enjoy the read -

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=018149931542195181678%3Apzxbzjzh1zk&ie=UTF-8&q=ria&siteurl=www.google.com%2Fcse%2Fhome%3Fcx%3D018149931542195181678%3Apzxbzjzh1zk

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/search.php?searchid=12753425

[Darklyte27]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=408127

[corvetteguy]

If you search my threads you will find several from me about my RIA Tactical. In short I love it! It has been an awesome gun and I'm up to 2000 rounds through it now. I would recommend the tactical over the GI because it has features that most people end up wanting but for a fraction of what it would take to have them added to the base GI.

Hope this helps!

Have fun when you get it!

David

[karl9422]

I shot a RIA GI at the range and was not that impressed with it it did not have onr problem but did not like how it felt in my hand. I ended up picking up a used AR Sales 1911 for a great price and likes how it shoots more than the RIA. But i took a chance and am happy with it. With the RIA it was more i did not like the grips that come with them and that would have been an easy fix

[OMGofWar]

i picked up an RIA compact last month at Turner's and don't regret it a single bit. of course, part of the reason why i love it so much was because it happened to be on sale just not in the weekly flier. most people would be hesitant to buy a 1911 for $399 but i'd never read a single bad review, so it wasn't that tough a decision for me.

really the hardest part was deciding what kind of mags to get. mine only came with one, and it seemed to me that there wasn't a single brand of magazine that everyone could really agree on -- so i ended up buying 4 new mags of different brand makes. the one that i do have problems with is a Colt magazine, while the Kimber and Chip McCormicks all feed fine. go figure.

i bought the RIAc GI so it comes with the plain, short bladed sights which aren't a problem for me, but it does come with a beaver tail which is very nice. what i did do, and what i might recommend, is swapping out the stock grips. i found them to be too smooth and went with some Frags from VZ Grips. they definitely make the gun feel a lot more expensive than it was.

it all comes down to preference and budget. if you find something you like and you can afford it, whether it's the RIA or something else, just get it and be happy. then again, no one said you can't save up and get a much higher-end 1911.

[Chief-7700]

I shot a RIA GI at the range and was not that impressed with it it did not have onr problem but did not like how it felt in my hand. I ended up picking up a used AR Sales 1911 for a great price and likes how it shoots more than the RIA. But i took a chance and am happy with it. With the RIA it was more i did not like the grips that come with them and that would have been an easy fix

Who built the top end of your AR Sales frame?

[Cokebottle]

If you search my threads you will find several from me about my RIA Tactical. In short I love it! It has been an awesome gun and I'm up to 2000 rounds through it now. I would recommend the tactical over the GI because it has features that most people end up wanting but for a fraction of what it would take to have them added to the base GI.

Hope this helps!

Have fun when you get it!

+1

I got the Tactical, and swapped out the guide rod and plug for a GI set with a 16lb Sprinco recoil spring.

Very happy with it. I've had a few FTF, but it's always been the last round... one particular Chip's "Shooting Star" (the cheap Chip's) and the stock Novak. Never had a problem with the Wilson Combat mags.
The FTF is simple... the slide simply locks back after the 7th round and the 8th round is just sitting there waiting to be pushed into the chamber... grab and release the slide and it chambers just fine.
On this one particular Chip's mag, it happens pretty regularly.

[Saigon1965]

That's the thing -

Remeber when none of the "custom" 1911 builders had their own frames -

Who built the top end of your AR Sales frame?

[karl9422]

It has a colt frame i picked up the gun for $360 and it turned out to be a great buy and works with out a problem. I do believe it started life as a stripped lower

[Sturnovik]

i picked up an RIA compact last month at Turner's and don't regret it a single bit. of course, part of the reason why i love it so much was because it happened to be on sale just not in the weekly flier. most people would be hesitant to buy a 1911 for $399 but i'd never read a single bad review, so it wasn't that tough a decision for me.

really the hardest part was deciding what kind of mags to get. mine only came with one, and it seemed to me that there wasn't a single brand of magazine that everyone could really agree on -- so i ended up buying 4 new mags of different brand makes. the one that i do have problems with is a Colt magazine, while the Kimber and Chip McCormicks all feed fine. go figure.

i bought the RIAc GI so it comes with the plain, short bladed sights which aren't a problem for me, but it does come with a beaver tail which is very nice. what i did do, and what i might recommend, is swapping out the stock grips. i found them to be too smooth and went with some Frags from VZ Grips. they definitely make the gun feel a lot more expensive than it was.

it all comes down to preference and budget. if you find something you like and you can afford it, whether it's the RIA or something else, just get it and be happy. then again, no one said you can't save up and get a much higher-end 1911.

I am picking up my first 1911 (RIA standard model) in a couple days. I'm hearing alot of magazine related debate over 1911 mags. I am surprised the Colt had issues with your pistol. Those are pretty high quality.

Was it feeding issues or just fitting in the magwell issues? I bought a bunch of ACT mags for my buddy when he got his and gave them as a present. He seems to like those. I'd normally just buy Mecgar mags, I'm assuming there 1911 ones are on par with there Sig/Ruger/Beretta mags?

[InGrAM]

RIA's are great guns. Cheap, reliable, and will shoot anything you feed them.

I converted my .38 super RIA gi fs to a 9mm with just a $50 scaro roto barrel and some 9mm metalform mags.
I have never heard of such luck with any other 1911 platform.

[LovingTheYear1911]

I love mine. Enough said

[Markus]

Whats a good price on these guys? I saw a GI model at the gun show for 499.99 is that decent? Made me think for a moment but I wasn't sure about the pricing.

[Cokebottle]

Whats a good price on these guys? I saw a GI model at the gun show for 499.99 is that decent? Made me think for a moment but I wasn't sure about the pricing.

You should be able to find the GI model for around $450 and the Tactical for $550 or less.

$500 isn't a horrible price, but it's not good either.